Electrical safety at home means using outlets, cords, appliances, and your electrical system in ways that reduce the risk of shock, burns, and house fires. For Washington homeowners, that starts with a few practical habits: noticing warning signs early, avoiding overloaded circuits, and knowing when to call a qualified electrician. Below are 8 simple electrical safety tips to help you protect your home and family.
One of the most common causes of electrocution accidents at home is from damaged power cords. Over time, the wires that run through the home might start to degrade. This is a danger that is often overlooked.
If any of these cords are exposed, you and your family could be in danger if you touch them. This is especially true for children and pets. If the protective coating on any of your wires has been stripped away, cover the cord or replace it. If you need help doing this, call a professional for help.
Loose outlets or switches could mean that they’re not installed properly or could have become loose from the stud. If you notice that the faceplates are warm to the touch, this could be a sign of a number of electrical issues that need to be addressed. If you are making any repairs or checking for electrical issues, be sure to cut the power to the outlets and switches first to keep yourself safe.
Another common source of electrical accidents comes from outlets that have been overloaded. Many times homeowners plug a number of different things into their outlets all at once, whether it’s a hairdryer, curling iron, electric razor, toaster oven coffee machine, or anything else that required electrical power.
Your outlets have been designed to deliver a certain amount of power and are not meant to deliver more electricity than they’ve been constructed to do. If you plug too many devices into the same outlet, the circuit will become overloaded. This can lead to a fire or a potential explosion in your Washington home. If you need to plug in more devices, use a power strip, which are designed to add additional outlets in a safe manner.
If your home still has a few older appliance models, you might want to take extra precautions that you normally wouldn’t have to with newer models. With older appliances, consider grounding them, which essentially means connecting them to an electrical neutral so that the circuit breaker can be “tripped” if an electrical fault occurs. Doing so can protect you and your family from being shocked by an electrical surge.
Extension cords are great for providing electrical power to something that is far away. On the other hand, they also should not be left out constantly. These cords are long and represent a tripping hazard if you’re not paying attention to where you’re walking.
In addition to a fall injury, this can also lead to serious damage to the outlet and the cord itself. In turn, this can increase the chances of something bad happening with the home’s wiring. If you are using extension cords all the time, you obviously need additional outlets in your home to accommodate such increased requirements. While you’re at it, limit your use of extension cords. If you must use one, be sure that it is the right size for use. Further, don’t connect extension cords and don’t run them under carpets or across doorways. In this case, it is a smart idea to call an electrician who can add additional outlets to your Washington state home.
You may want to take some time getting to know your electrical panel, which is a large switch panel filled with many other smaller switches that send electricity to various parts of your house. It includes a main breaker that controls the whole panel along with smaller breakers that provide electrical service to certain rooms or appliances. If one of the breakers trips, you will be able to pinpoint it because it will be in the off position. To fix it, turn it off and then back on to reset it. If it trips again immediately after it has been reset, there could be an underlying electrical issue, which in this case would warrant a call to an electrician.
Considering the potential hazard that electricals in the house can pose, it’s always advised that homeowners work with qualified electricians if there is an issue that could pose a potential danger to everyone in your home. Trying to resolve electrical problems on your own can be potentially dangerous, and as such, you’d be well-advised to hire a professional to fix the issues for you.
Other important electrical safety steps include keeping powered devices away from water and supervising children around outlets, cords, and plugged-in appliances. Water and electricity are a dangerous combination, and children may not recognize the risk of touching outlets or pulling on cords. Taking a few simple precautions in these areas can help prevent serious injuries at home.
Electrical injuries are serious and should be avoided at all costs. By paying attention to warning signs, using cords and outlets properly, and calling a qualified electrician when something seems wrong, you can make your Washington home safer.
Sammamish Mortgage can help. We serve clients across Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Oregon, and California. Since 1992, we’ve been helping borrowers prepare for their next home purchase with several mortgage programs and flexible qualification criteria. Visit our website to get an instant rate quote, use our online mortgage calculator, or reach out to us if you are ready to get pre-approved for a mortgage.
Common home electrical hazards include damaged power cords, loose or warm outlets and switches, overloaded outlets, older ungrounded appliances, overused extension cords, electricity near water, and unsupervised children around outlets or plugged-in devices.
Yes. If outlets, switches, or their faceplates feel warm to the touch, that can point to an electrical issue that should be addressed. Power should be shut off before checking anything, and a qualified electrician should inspect the problem if needed.
No. Extension cords are useful for temporary power, but they should not be left out constantly. Long-term use can create tripping hazards and may increase the chance of damage to the cord or outlet. If extension cords are needed all the time, additional outlets may be a better solution.
A tripped breaker means the circuit has shut off power for safety. If a breaker trips again immediately after being reset, that can signal an underlying electrical issue and it is a good time to call an electrician.
A homeowner should call a qualified electrician when there are signs of danger such as warm outlets, recurring breaker trips, damaged wiring, or any problem that could put people in the home at risk. Electrical work can be hazardous, so professional help is the safer choice when the issue is unclear or serious.
The article highlights damaged power cords and overloaded outlets as two of the most common household electrical problems. Both can raise the risk of shock, burns, or fire if they are ignored.
Outlets are designed to deliver only a certain amount of power. Plugging too many devices into the same outlet can overload the circuit, which raises the risk of fire and other electrical accidents.
Older appliances may need extra precautions, including grounding. Grounding helps connect the appliance so the circuit breaker can trip if an electrical fault occurs, which can reduce the risk of shock from an electrical surge.
Water and electricity are a dangerous combination, and children may not understand the risk of touching outlets, pulling cords, or handling plugged-in devices. Keeping powered items away from water and supervising children around electrical devices can help prevent serious injuries.
Washington homeowners should know where the electrical panel is, understand that the main breaker controls the whole panel, and recognize that smaller breakers serve specific rooms or appliances. If a breaker trips, it can usually be identified by its off position and reset by turning it off and back on. If it trips again right away, an electrician should be called.
Our loan officers are ready and waiting to help you apply for your home loan.
Learn more about the people behind Sammamish Mortgage
Whether you’re buying a home or ready to refinance, our professionals can help.
Mortgage Support — 24/7
No Obligation and transparency 24/7. Instantly compare live rates and costs from our network of lenders across the country. Real-time accurate rates and closing costs for a variety of loan programs custom to your specific situation.
Adjust the parameters based on what you want to track
